Multiple red cell antigen loss in acute granulocytic leukemia

Loss of certain red blood cell antigens has been described in various disease states including acute granulocytic leukemia (AGL). This paper describes the loss of blood group A antigen in three patients, two with AGL and a third with a myeloproliferative disorder similar to AGL which developed following total body irradiation for malignant, well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma. In the latter case, the onset of the myeloproliferative disease correlated with the loss of A antigen. In addition to A antigen loss, all three patients' red cells showed the loss of Lewis antigen, a finding previously unreported. Finally, the two patients with AGL also exhibited the loss of I antigen from their red cells.